The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Andy Prior won all three of the races on Sunday to lift Welland Yacht Club’s Grounds Trophy regatta.
Some 12 boats took to the starting line, including several double handed – with junior members crewing Tom Bell, Freya Willerton in a Scorpion, Lucy Burton with Rosie
Willerton in the club’s RS Feva, kindly donated by the Round Table community fund.
With the sun shining and varying breeze, the first race got under way without incident, although weed caused issues for a few boats.
Prior would finish ahead on the water, followed by Geri van Haren then Ros Nickols.
Once handicaps were applied, Prior maintained his win from Nickols in second, with Martin Cook third and Brian Cobb fourth.
Race two saw junior Samuel Willerton crewing for Shelly Woolridge in a club Magno.
Despite the course being shortened to avoid the worst of the weed, several boats retired after still encountering problems with it. Again, Prior sailed to the win on the water, this time from Follington in second. Phil Robinson was third, with Cook fourth.
Keeping with the same course for race three, only ten boats lined up for the final race of the day.
With the breeze having strengthened, Richard Stedman took an early bath with a capsize.
For his hat-trick Prior would take the win from Robinson second, Follington third and the double hander of Tom Bell and Freya Willerton fourth.
That gave Prior overall glory from Follington in second and Cook in third.
The highest placed junior was Katie Follington.
